Method of forming tubes



May 7, 1940. c, WRIGHT METHOD OF FORMING TUBES Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l mwrnu H M m mm EH 0 z m m g mm W I E .x X\ L w l li lnhu ill 1 R Wm m mw C 7 h .w h (H S 4 v J Y J m m. B L a L VAN/fill. jlbfi 3 May 7, 1940- c. WRIGHT METHOD OF FORMING TUBES Filed Sept. 22. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CARL WR HT M WSW ATTORNEY.

May 7, 1940. c. WRIGHT METHOD OF FORMING TUBES Filed Sept. 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5

INVENTOR. CARL WRIGHT BY As 4 /13 ATTORNEY.

4 Shepts-Sheet '4 m r M m H m; Y W M I J h @U n@ 2 m v /.CA/?L f m May 7, 1940. c. WRIGHT METHOD OF FORMING TUBES Filed Sept. 22, 1931 mm mm Patented May 7, 1 5

2,199,602 mTHOD F FORMING TUBES Carl Wright, Geneva,

Ohio, assignor to The American Fork & Hoe Co'mpany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 22, 1937, Serial No. 165,167

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for forming tubular rods, and relates more particularly to a method and apparatus for tapering tubular rods of relatively small diameter, such as fly rod tip portions and the like.

Fly rods for fishing and particularly the tip portions are relatively small in diameter and require greater care in drawing to taper the same than larger diameter rods. I have devised a method of taper drawing tubular rods of relatively small diameter wherein the rod is pulled through a die after being intially projected therethrough thereby subjecting the rod to tension rather than compression in effecting the drawl5 ing operation and eliminating any tendency of the rod to buckle. Also, the trailing end of the rod is supported during the drawing operation in proper alignment with the die.

It is a primary object of my invention therefore, to provide a method of forming tapered tubular rods of relatively small diameter.

Another object of myinvention is to provide for the drawing of tubes of relatively small diameter having stepped portions of progressively decreased diameter.

' Another object of my invention is to provide for the drawing of a relatively small tube of cylindrical form to a different form wherein portions are reduced in diameter.

for the drawing of relatively small tubes in successive operations whereby diflerent portions of the length of the tube are successively operated upon to produce a tube of progressively decreased diameter toward one of its ends.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of drawing tubes of relatively small diameter by pulling the tubes through dies of successively reduced diameters.

Qther objects of my invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a machine embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of part of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

FlFigl. 3 is a section taken ,along line 3-3 of 8- i Fig. i is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the central portion of the machine illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 68 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 7 illustrates a step tapered tube formed by the process of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, I have illustrated generally at IU a tube drawing machine comprising a pair of transverse- Another object of my invention is toprovide ly spaced longitudinally extending channels llll supported by end standards l2, intermediate standards l3 and a housing It. A continuous link chain I5 is drivenby a sprocket i6 and engages a sprocket H at the opposite end of the machine, the sprocket l1 being longitudinally adjustable by mechanism generally indicated at [8 to regulate the chain tension. An idler sprocket I9 supported on the central standards If! is engageable with the lower flight of the chain to aid in supporting the chain in a well known manner. The standards l2v and i3 are preferably channel members having suitable bearing plates welded or otherwise integrally secured to their lower ends, the bearing plates being rigidly bolted to the floor or su )port. Cross braces 20 preferably of channel sections serve as spacing members for channels II and are bolted to the standards and the channels I I.

The housing It is mounted on a base 2| upon which is also mounted an electric motor 22. Housing 14 rotatably supports a shaft 23 coupled to the motor shaft as indicated at 24. Shaft 23 through a gear train (not shown) within housing l4 drives sprocket It. The manner of mounting sprocket l6 intermediate channels H and of supporting the channels ll constitutes no essential part of my invention and any well known means may be employed.

Motor 22 is preferably of the reversible type to drive chain IS in alternate directions, but the reversing movement may be eilected by a reversing clutch or similar arrangement if desired.

As best indicated in Fig. 6, sprocket I1 is rotatably mounted on ashaft 25 which is projected I through generally rectangular openings 26 provided in the webs of channels H and supported by bearing blocks 21. Blocks 21 are of generally square form and are longitudinally siidable in guides 28 bolted to channels l|.

Rods 29 threadedly engage guides 28 and may be manipulated by nuts 30 to adjustably move blocks 21 and regulate the tension on chain l5. Idler sprocket l9 as best illustrated in Fig. 5, is rotatably supported by a shaft 3| mounted in brackets 32 secured to the central standards l3.

superposed on the upper legs of channels ll and suitably secured thereto is a plate 33 extending substantially from end to end of the machine and perforated to permit sprockets l6 and II to project upwardly therethrough. Extending longitudinally and generally centrally of plate 33 is a channel form support element 34, best illustrated in Fig. 3, adapted to have the link pins of the top flight of the chain slide thereover. Slidably supported on plate 33 is a carriage generally indicated at 35 comprising angle members 36-36 having laterally outwardly projecting legs guided by ways comprising side plates 31 and top plates 38 bolted to plates 33.

The carriage is adapted to detachably engage chain l5 whereby it may be driven thereby in the following manner. A vertically movable pin 40 is projected through the carriage top to be disposed intermediate two adjacent link pins of the chain l5. Pin 40' is connected by a link 4| to an arm 42 pivoted on a bracket 53 whereby movement of the arm may elevate the pin. The pin 40 may be locked against accidental disengagement with the chain by a spring tensioned element 45 engaging a slot in the pin.

Mounted on the forward end of the carriage is a clamp 46 comprising confronting arcuate jaws 41-41 adapted to grasp a tube or rod there- .between. The operation of the jaws is controlled by a handle 48 which may either directly actuate the jaws or control fluid pressure actuating the same.

Slidably mounted on the ways in a manner similar to carriage 35 is a second carriage 50 provided also with a clamp 45 having the jaws thereof longitudinally aligned with the jaws of the forward clamp. The carriag'e 50 may be detachably engaged with the chain I5 through a pin mechanism generally similar to that described in connection with carriage 35 and controlled either manually or automatically.

Mounted generally centrally of the machine is a rotatable die head 5| comprising a disc having a plurality of dies as indicated at 52 maintained the'ein by guide bushings 53. The die head is rotatable about a bolt 54 projected through a bracket 55 bolted to the channels II. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 5 that the die head is mounted laterally of longitudinal axis of the machine, thus permitting a die in alignment with clamps 4'5 to be disposed relatively close to the machine bed.

It will now be understood that the chain may concurrently propel the carriages 35 and 50 in either direction and that the carriages may be relatively moved along the chain to accommodate rods of varying length and taper.

Any convenient means may be employed for stopping the chain at a desired point as by stopping the motor 22 or employing a clutch mechanism and the reversing movement of the chain can be effected either by reversing the motor or a clutch mechanism.

The method of taper drawing a rod to the form illustrated in Fig. 7, from a cylindrical tube or rod will now be described. The butt end of the rod as illustrated at is disposed intermediate jaws 41 of clamp 46 on the forward carriage 35 and the die head is rotated to bring a desired die slightly smaller than the rod diameter in alignment with the rod axis. The carriage 35 is moved foivardly to force the tip end of the mo. into the guide bushing 53 and through the die 52. The tip portion of the rod is then grasped by the jaws 41 of the clamp 46 of rear carriage 5D and the rod is then pulled through the die until the forward movement is stopped at a desired point. The tip or forward end of the tube is swaged or pressed in the usual manner to a relatively small diameter permitting it to be easily projected through the smallest diameter die and grasped by the jaws of carriage 50. It will be noted that other than the initial pushing force on the rod projecting the tip through the die that the drawing operation is effected by pulling with the trailing clamp merely supporting the butt end of the rod in proper alignment. Thus, the rod is subjected only to a small initial compressive stress and then tensile stress eliminating any tendency to buckle or longitudinally deform a small diameter rod. The jaws of the rear clamp are then disengaged from the rod and the rod is withdrawn through the die by the forward clamp and the die head rotated to align a smaller diameter die with the rod and.

the operation is repeated on a shorter length of the previously drawn tube portion.

Although I have shown and described a preferred method for carrying out my invention, I contemplate that numerous and extensive modifications may be made but without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of drawing a substantially cylindrical tube to produce therefrom a progressively stepped tube which comprises grasping an end portion of the tube and pushing the tip portion of the tube through a guide element and subsequently a die, grasping the tip portion and pulling atrailing portion of the tube through the die while supporting the rearward end of the tube to provide a reduced tube portion, releasing the tip portion, withdrawing the tube by the rearward end portion, and repeating the operation with a smaller die to further reduce a part of the reduced portion.

2. The method of drawing a tube to produce therefrom a progressively stepped tube which comprises providing longitudinally spaced and axially aligned chucks and an intermediate die head rotatable to dispose a plurality of different size dies in successive alignment with the chucks, supporting a tube at one'end thereof by one chuck and moving the said chuck and tube towards the die to force the tip portion of the tube through the die, engaging the tube tip portion with the second chuck and pulling a portion of the tube through the die by the second chuck to reduce said portion, disengaging the tube tip portion from the second chuck, withdrawing the tube by movement of the first chuck, rotating the die head to dispose a smaller die in axial alignment with the chuck, and continuing the operation on a shorter length of tube.

3. The method of drawing a substantially cylindrical tube to produce therefrom a progressively stepped tube which comprises grasping an end portion of the tube and pushing the tip portion of the tube through a guide element and subsequently a die, grasping the tip portion and pulling a trailing portion-of the tube through the die' while supporting the rearward end of the tube to provide a reduced tube portion, withdrawing the tube by-the rearward end portion and repeating the operation with a smaller die to further reduce a part of the reduced portion.

4. The method of drawing a substantially cylindrical tube to produce therefrom a stepped tube which comprises supporting the tube at one end thereof, moving the said supported end of the tube through a die, engaging the tube tip portion with a second supporting means, pulling a trailing portion of the tube through the die to provide a reduced tube portion, releasing the tip portion, withdrawing the tube by means of rearward movement of the tube end supporting portion and repeating the operation with a smaller die to further reduce a part of the reduced portion.

CARL WRIGHT. 

